 More adventures from the Kagura mob - this time veering away from any
semblance of a story & rushing headlong into the arms of all-out
action...
1 - Beginners
Irie offers Taba a job with Hound, if he decides to leave Kagura, which
gives him something to think about - he has been wanting to get away
from Kagura for a while. His moping over the possibilities is
interrupted by another contract, though - this time, a building site
with more than its fair share of pussycats...
2 - Night Moves
Onsen! Although sadly edited - those who like their nipples will want
to bear this in mind. Some of the Kagura staff are beginning to wonder
about their company - like where the sealing software comes from, for a
start - and the questions are unnerving Yuka. Some secrets behind the
founding of the company, perhaps? Taba, meanwhile, is getting more
attached to the phantom cat who's been tailing him, and has even given
her a name - Maya - although not so attached that he doesn't try and
get some information about Black Cat's grouping out of her. Meanwhile,
a group opposed to Black Cat's plans decide to make an example out of
him & attempt to kill him - Maya, following her orders, does her
best to protect Taba, but the attempt leaves him without a home...
3 - The Great Battle at Ayagane Harbour
It on with the swimsuits as the Kagura team take on the Phantom Cats
once more - this time in a running battle through the harbour. With
Hound and Irie also involved, events soon get out of control -
especially after the Cats seize control of a Navy cruiser. Destruction
and mayhem ensue...
4 - The Battle at Ayagane City
The battle reaches shore & continues, with the Cats making good use
of of a Prowler - an automated tank that's proving hard to avoid.
Realizing it makes more sense to team up that work against each other,
the Hound commander agrees to work with Kagura to round up the Cats
(although Kagura have some issues with his demand that they wear
uniforms...). Although it seems the whole incident may be a set-up by
Black Cat...
Okay, so this volume maybe isn't lacking in any traces on an
ongoing plot - Irie & Black Cat work on their respective sidelines
at whatever schemes it is they have up their sleeves, but their plans
only barely register through the issue, which unashamedly focusses on
action & fanservice. Neither is a bad thing...! This issue is
noticeable because of the editing of the onsen scenes - I'm told there
are no such edits from Volume 3 onwards.
Past that, what's to write when 90% of the manga involves Kagura
blowing things us - in their usual inept style. :) I love the art of
this series, although the reproduction isn't that great (sadly
something CPM haven't corrected in the new reprinting, apparently), and
for sheer entertainment value it's hard to beat. Part of me wishes
there was a bit more emphasis on the story that's locked inside &
trying to get out, but that's really a minor criticism. Well worth
buying.
It's worth pointing out that the reviewed version is now out-of-print. CPM are re-releasing Geobreeders in a new, smaller format (A5-sized, to match TOKYOPOP's Authentic Manga
line, although CPM are keeping to their flipped / translated format).
The new version of Volume 1 is out now, volume 2 is due on September
15, 2004. |
